BALANGA CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday launched here a nationwide information campaign on a new law on plastic packaging waste and the third edition of project Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (Transform).
DENR Sec. Maria Antonia Loyzaga led in the soft launch of the information drive on RA 11898, a new act institutionalizing the extended producer responsibility (EPR) on the proper management of plastic packaging wastes.
The secretary said that the EPR campaign aims to raise understanding and obtain commitments for the compliance of the law among large enterprises, including brand owners, manufacturers and importers of consumer goods.
“We hope for your team support here in terms of the private sector but we hope also that we will embark on a way for us to research how we might able to upcycle plastics. We know that there is a law on single use plastic, however, we also know realistically that this product will not go away very soon,” Loyzaga said. “And so, our commitment to you is to work together with you on the upcycle and not just the recycling of plastics here in the province,”
Loyzaga noted that this was the project that was brought up during the Bataan Advance Science and Technology Ecosystem and that they planned to continue on this with the province as well.
On project Transform, Loyzaga said DENR was bringing to Bataan its newest integrated resilience and sustainability project for local government units with the towns of Orion, Limay, and Mariveles as pilot areas.
She said that the project aims to put together all the best practices from both government and the private sectors to deliver an inclusive, science-based and data-driven template that all stakeholders, partners and LGUs can use in fighting the accelerating climate emergency.
The template is composed of five DENR modules that will be introduced to the chosen LGUs: biodiversity, greenhouse gases accounting, financial literacy, disaster management and nature-based solutions.
“This is only the beginning and by working together, we can truly make a lasting impact in our communities. The DENR stands committed to support Bataan in the implementation of its informed and inclusive plans, policies and programs and in facilitating investments in the province through furthering multi-stakeholder partnerships,” Loyzaga said.
“These partnerships have a vital role to play in accelerating a transformative and sustainable resilience agenda for which the Bataan brand will be known for. Leadership and governance are an integral part of resilience and you have that leadership in this province,” she furthered.
She expressed here gratitude to the local leadership led by Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III, 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia and 3rd District Rep. Maria Angela Garcia.
“It is critical that this leadership understands how vulnerabilities can become opportunities. I would like to express the DENR commitment to deepening our partnership with all of you towards to more resilient, progressive and sustainable Bataan,” Loyzaga added.
The DENR secretary signed memorandum of agreement, partnership agreement with concerned sectors.
Among the firms that took part were San Miguel Foods, Puregold, Vista Mall – Bataan. Mitsubishi Corp., Bounty Fresh Food, SM Supermalls, Philcement Corp., among some others.
Congresswoman Maria Angela Garcia said Project Transform brought significance not only to the province but more importantly to the Bataeños in their journey towards a healthier, longer and more meaningful life.
“We have reached the point wherein we have to reflect and act to see how these brilliant workable ideas can help reshape the landscape of business industry and governance in Bataan as well as in our people’s lifestyle,” Garcia noted.
